The base FL model of Harley Davidson got the third and final model in 1965. That happened to be the final year for the 'Panhead'engines. These final versions of Panheads had the big twin Harley Davidson engines that were equipped with electric starters and got the new model name of Electra Glide.
The 'Panhead'gave way to 'Shovelhead'in 1966, and could thereby gain about ten percent increase in power in the process.
A fork mounted fairing for reduction of air drag and protection for the rider, became available on Electra Glide in 1969. In the early Electra Glide, the batwing fairing could be easily removed but it was not removable in the later versions since the instruments were shifted from the fuel tank into the fairing.
In 1978, an 80 cubic inch (1.3 L) engine was made optional on the Electra Glide but FL designation was left unchanged. The same size engine became the standard in 1981 and the lower size of 74 cubic inch (1.2 L) was discontinued.
In 1979, one could see the FLH Electra Glide being used alongside the newly introduced FLT Tour Glide. The FLT had a larger frame with rubber engine mounts, five speed transmission, 80 cubic inch(1.3L) engine, and a frame mounted fairing.
In 1983, FLHT model was introduced. This was an Electra Glide based on the FLT Tour Glide Frame but having the Electro Glide 'batwing 'fairing instead of the Tour Glide frame-mounted fairing. Leaving aside the base FLH, all 1984 FLs’ were equipped with the new rubber mounted elongation engine and a five - speed transmission.
An unfaired version of the FLH Electra Glide , which was known as the FLHS Electra Glide Sport, was available from 1977 to 1982. An unfaired FLHT Electra Glide was reintroduced in the name of FLHS Electra Glide Sport in 1987. In 1994, the FLHR Road King replaced the FLHS Electra Glide Sport which is still continuing as such.
It seemed really fitting that the first 100th.anniversary of Harley Davidson model that was sampled was Electra Glide, perhaps the most traditional of all Harley models of motorbikes. The 'Glide'part goes back to 1949, when Harley first introduced hydraulically damped fork, the Hydra- Glide on its big twins.
The name was applied for the entire bike in 1958, when the Duo-Glide was rolled out with rear suspension. In 1965, when the big twin got the much needed electric starting, it was renamed the Electra Glide.
For six long years, the first true factory cruiser, the Super Glide, debuted out in 1971, the Electra Glide was the only Harley Davidson big twin. It was the bike that you thought of, when someone said,'Harley', 'dresser', ‘big twin ' or even 'American motorcycle'.
